they might be make the character realistic because character like Jae On and Nabi do exist. but boy do they lack…
I think the biggest con with this drama is the repetitiveness. I don't find it bland but I think what makes it boring for some, is the fact that the same thing happens every 3 episodes. However, that's intentional, as it's a push and pull type of relationship. I think what may have made the repetition more exciting is if the female lead character showed more emotions (nothing too dramatic), and if they introduced the second male lead earlier in the drama.
I literally went through almost the same thing when I was in college. The guy was also a year younger than me, and while not as attractive as the male lead in this drama, he was attractive enough to captivate a whole bunch of women at my well known/large university. The main difference is that while attending the same university, we were different majors AND he wasn't as upfront as the male lead was about not wanting to date. We met in one class that we had together. After we ended things (we casually dated but weren't in a relationship) he tried to do push and pull with me too, and I literally ignored him. The more that I ignored him, the more he felt the need to try and get my attention. BTW, like the female character, he treated me better than the others. I am not saying this to be competitive or to make myself feel good, but he really did, and that made the other women (who I didn't find out about until after the fact) hate me. It ended with me having to continually ignore him. He became more and more popular, and I continued to ignore him. Honestly, most of the time, situations like this don't end well because like the male lead, and the guy I dated, they both had childhood trauma (they felt abandoned by their mother, and their father was absent in their life). I believe this is the reason why they had trust issues when it came to dating/being in a monogamous relationship with a woman. Without getting counseling for that childhood trauma, there's no way that love can be in any romantic relationship they are in, because it'll always be fear (not love) and a relationship without trust, thus they will not be vulnerable and open. I hope that this drama doesn't have a happy ending. I hope that the female lead doesn't choose any of the male characters but rather take time to focus on her previous unresolved trauma before dating someone else and ruining their life! This is a perfect example of how unresolved trauma becomes a generational curse, which impacts the lives of romantic partners, and even children.
BELOW IS A SNIPPET OF MY REVIEW FOR THIS DRAMA. BTW, I gave this drama a rating of 9.0 because of the realism, and unlike most, I think the acting was good.
Don't lie, in our 20's we've all dated at least one guy like the male lead!
Those who wrote a review, and had only watched the first 2 episodes, will probably have a different opinion than those who watched the first 5 episodes. Both characters are pushing and pulling out of fear, not just the male lead (read the synopsis).
I think the direction that Korean script writers and dramas are heading towards is realism meets romance. I think this drama would be liked more by western viewers as opposed to South Koreans. However, I could be wrong. I usually dislike dramas in which there is an overflow of toxicity within the storyline or for a character, and if the toxicity is not needed in order to tell the story. However, with this drama it's different because there's a true purpose behind this story, the toxic traits behind both the female and male lead characters show us something. I think a lot of South Koreans tend to like the aegyo style romance (judging by the reviews on kisskh), but it doesn't make them asexual. I think westerners and Asians are both sexual beings but westerners tend to be more upfront with it. As a person who doesn't like overly sexualized movies or dramas, I think this drama is shining the light on the fact that Korean men, are no different than western men when it comes to dating; some men have good intentions, some men have bad intentions. Side note: The male lead actor is hot, as well as the second male lead (wheeeew)!
Dear readers, PLEASE PRACTICE SAFE SEX, ESPECIALLY IF THE PERSON YOUR WITH IS PROMISCUOUS. -XOXO From Your Private Parts
Dear readers, You're single until your married. -XOXO From TalkingWithYou
Dear readers, If you have to guess where you stand with a guy, he's really not that into you. Move on, or stay and get your feelings hurt! -XOXO From middle aged women, who have been there and done that
Dear readers, I hope that everyone who reads this review will heal from childhood trauma, and any trauma acquired over the years before they consider dating someone else and or sleeping with someone . If you do not, you may end up ruining someone else's life because you chose not to get rid of your toxic traits ahead of time. Thanks in advance! -XOXO From all the singles who healed already
To be honest, I dropped the drama 2 episodes before the end (15/17) because I was OVER what the male lead character did in episode 15, and I knew the producer/director/screenwriter would justify his bad behavior and that they would have a happy ending. I think I am going to rewatch episodes 1-15 again lol.
You're welcome! Below is a snippet of my review for that drama.
This review may contain spoilers Whewwwww
I cried a lot of happy tears when watching this drama. It's so interesting how this drama really got me emotional, but in a good way. This is the first drama that I've watched in which the female lead, male lead, and the antagonist male and female characters were not at fault for the tragedy that happened in the drama. Although, no one's actions were perfect, they were however, realistic based upon the situations that lead to such tragedy.
WOW! Your article is so well designed, and the presentation is outstanding. As a student of research, I enjoyed the fact that you took a sample, and used the data that was collected from your sample (kudos).
I agree with what was written by the user OldLadyAnime. Additionally, I believe that sexism, implicit bias and culture plays a huge role in the reason why female villains are hated more/have less character development than their male counterparts, and explains the reason why the actresses who plays the female villain receive more backlash as opposed to male actors who play male villains. Overall, systems (educational, beauty standards, judicial, marital, entertainment, etc) have been established to please, and benefit men, and this is often done by using women; in the past women were not used as equal partners but as subordinates. So they were a means for men to be pleased, even in entertainment (watch movies from the 50's). Although, these systems are changing slowly (e.g. beauty standards, equality, etc), they still benefit men more than women. Once a system is established (e.g. patriarchy, sexism) with a specific purpose (e.g. male pleasure, male dominance, etc), even if the system changed completely, it would be very difficult for that specific purpose to be changed.
For example: Why do we really hate the female villain characters? Why does this hate extend to the actresses who play the female villain characters? Because often times in dramas/movies the female villain/antagonist likes the male lead, who likes the female lead character. We put ourselves in the shoes of the female lead character, and thus as we are watching these dramas, in our minds as the female lead we feel the need to protect our relationship with the male lead. Why is this? Why can't we just hold the male lead accountable for his actions, as he is the one interested in the female lead. If the male lead rejects all the advances of the female villain, then the male lead relationship with the female lead will continue on. Women tend to hold women more accountable than men. Why? It's because we've been conditioned to do so. If a female is raped, we automatically wonder what she was wearing or what she did to be raped? How about we ask, what's wrong with the rapist? How about we hold the rapist(usually male but not always) accountable? What I am saying is that women have been conditioned by systems that benefit men (aka society) to hate other women, because women (consciously or unconsciously) see other women as competition for men's attention, for jobs (the CEO is often a man), for love (because we desire to be the ideal standard of beauty, so that we can be liked by men), etc.
I believe if script writers would put the same energy in explaining why the female villain became a villain (e.g. abusive husband, toxic father, childhood trauma, etc), like they do with male villains we might have more empathy for the female villain. However, I still think the conditioning of women by a male dominated society, will still have most women being empathic towards the male villain rather than the female villain, which is the reason why in society, we (unconsciously or consciously) blame women for being raped, physically abused, mentally abused, getting pregnant (it takes 2 to tangle folks), etc.
Btw, I am somewhat guilty of this too. Read my review for the drama "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes." There's something that I found really attractive by the male lead who is very toxic, and who I believe is a sociopath. https://kisskh.at/23520-hundred-million-stars-from-the-sky
BELOW IS A SNIPPET OF MY REVIEW FOR THIS DRAMA. BTW, I gave this drama a rating of 9.0 because of the realism, and unlike most, I think the acting was good.
Don't lie, in our 20's we've all dated at least one guy like the male lead!
Those who wrote a review, and had only watched the first 2 episodes, will probably have a different opinion than those who watched the first 5 episodes. Both characters are pushing and pulling out of fear, not just the male lead (read the synopsis).
I think the direction that Korean script writers and dramas are heading towards is realism meets romance. I think this drama would be liked more by western viewers as opposed to South Koreans. However, I could be wrong. I usually dislike dramas in which there is an overflow of toxicity within the storyline or for a character, and if the toxicity is not needed in order to tell the story. However, with this drama it's different because there's a true purpose behind this story, the toxic traits behind both the female and male lead characters show us something. I think a lot of South Koreans tend to like the aegyo style romance (judging by the reviews on kisskh), but it doesn't make them asexual. I think westerners and Asians are both sexual beings but westerners tend to be more upfront with it. As a person who doesn't like overly sexualized movies or dramas, I think this drama is shining the light on the fact that Korean men, are no different than western men when it comes to dating; some men have good intentions, some men have bad intentions. Side note: The male lead actor is hot, as well as the second male lead (wheeeew)!
Dear readers,
PLEASE PRACTICE SAFE SEX, ESPECIALLY IF THE PERSON YOUR WITH IS PROMISCUOUS.
-XOXO From Your Private Parts
Dear readers,
You're single until your married.
-XOXO From TalkingWithYou
Dear readers,
If you have to guess where you stand with a guy, he's really not that into you. Move on, or stay and get your feelings hurt!
-XOXO From middle aged women, who have been there and done that
Dear readers,
I hope that everyone who reads this review will heal from childhood trauma, and any trauma acquired over the years before they consider dating someone else and or sleeping with someone . If you do not, you may end up ruining someone else's life because you chose not to get rid of your toxic traits ahead of time. Thanks in advance!
-XOXO From all the singles who healed already
This review may contain spoilers
Whewwwww
I cried a lot of happy tears when watching this drama. It's so interesting how this drama really got me emotional, but in a good way. This is the first drama that I've watched in which the female lead, male lead, and the antagonist male and female characters were not at fault for the tragedy that happened in the drama. Although, no one's actions were perfect, they were however, realistic based upon the situations that lead to such tragedy.
I agree with what was written by the user OldLadyAnime. Additionally, I believe that sexism, implicit bias and culture plays a huge role in the reason why female villains are hated more/have less character development than their male counterparts, and explains the reason why the actresses who plays the female villain receive more backlash as opposed to male actors who play male villains. Overall, systems (educational, beauty standards, judicial, marital, entertainment, etc) have been established to please, and benefit men, and this is often done by using women; in the past women were not used as equal partners but as subordinates. So they were a means for men to be pleased, even in entertainment (watch movies from the 50's). Although, these systems are changing slowly (e.g. beauty standards, equality, etc), they still benefit men more than women. Once a system is established (e.g. patriarchy, sexism) with a specific purpose (e.g. male pleasure, male dominance, etc), even if the system changed completely, it would be very difficult for that specific purpose to be changed.
For example: Why do we really hate the female villain characters? Why does this hate extend to the actresses who play the female villain characters? Because often times in dramas/movies the female villain/antagonist likes the male lead, who likes the female lead character. We put ourselves in the shoes of the female lead character, and thus as we are watching these dramas, in our minds as the female lead we feel the need to protect our relationship with the male lead. Why is this? Why can't we just hold the male lead accountable for his actions, as he is the one interested in the female lead. If the male lead rejects all the advances of the female villain, then the male lead relationship with the female lead will continue on. Women tend to hold women more accountable than men. Why? It's because we've been conditioned to do so. If a female is raped, we automatically wonder what she was wearing or what she did to be raped? How about we ask, what's wrong with the rapist? How about we hold the rapist(usually male but not always) accountable? What I am saying is that women have been conditioned by systems that benefit men (aka society) to hate other women, because women (consciously or unconsciously) see other women as competition for men's attention, for jobs (the CEO is often a man), for love (because we desire to be the ideal standard of beauty, so that we can be liked by men), etc.
I believe if script writers would put the same energy in explaining why the female villain became a villain (e.g. abusive husband, toxic father, childhood trauma, etc), like they do with male villains we might have more empathy for the female villain. However, I still think the conditioning of women by a male dominated society, will still have most women being empathic towards the male villain rather than the female villain, which is the reason why in society, we (unconsciously or consciously) blame women for being raped, physically abused, mentally abused, getting pregnant (it takes 2 to tangle folks), etc.
Btw, I am somewhat guilty of this too. Read my review for the drama "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes." There's something that I found really attractive by the male lead who is very toxic, and who I believe is a sociopath. https://kisskh.at/23520-hundred-million-stars-from-the-sky
https://myasiantv.cc/kshow/happy-together-s3/episode-455